Toolmaker&#39;s optical instrument having mounting features and scale graduations



Filed May 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nomi, 1949. E, HAGER 2,485,645

TOOLMAKERS OPTICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING MOUNTING FEATURES AND SCALE GRADUATIONS 1? INVENTOR.

fM/L E HAGE/F ATTORNEY Nov.1, 1949. E. F. HAGER TOOLMAKER'S OPTICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING MOUNTING FEATURES AND SCALE GRADUATIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1945 NOV-1, 1949' E. F. HAGER TOOLMAKER'S OPTICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING MOUNTING FEATURES AND SCALE GRADUATIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1945 IMENTOR. EM/L #6 65? BY g0; z

ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1949. E. F. HAGER 2,486,645

TOOLMAKERS OPTICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING MOUNTING FEATURES AND SCALE GRADUATIONS Filed May 18, 1945 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWW 1 INVENTOR. fM/L HAGEA A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOLMAKERS OPTICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING MOUNTING FEATURES AND SCALE GRADUATIONS This invention relates to microscope apparatus and more particularly to a toolmakers optical measuring instrument.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved optical apparatus for measuring screw threads, gear teeth, distances, angular relations, etc. of tools and parts for precision instruments, watches and the like.

Another object is to provide an improved table or stage arrangement for optical measuring apparatus capable of fine adjustments along coordinate axes and in angular directions.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide a table and instrument supporting column arrangement whereby coordinate and angular adjustments of the table relative to the column can be made; to provide a column adjustable relative to the table; to provide improved instrument supporting brackets for swivel, rotary and sliding adjustments; and to provide an improved microscope of relatively simple construction having various adjustments to facilitate measurement of work of various shapes.

For a better understanding of the above and other objects of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the optical measuring instrument according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the instrument with parts broken away and in section to show the construction and adjustment features of the table;

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation of the optical measuring instrument with the microscope tube and an associated protractor shown in section;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views in side elevation of supporting brackets that can be used for various purposes in conjunction with the table and column arrangement of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of an adjustable center support for tools and other Work to be measured and/or worked upon; I

Fig. 8 is an end view of the support of Fig. 7 viewed from the right hand side thereof;

, Fig. 9 is a view of the left hand portion of the center support as viewed from line 9--9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the left hand. adjustment member of Fig. 7

Figs. 11 and 12 are side and end elevational views of a block attachment for use on the table of the optical measuring instrument; and

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show details of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the optical measuring instrument, according to a preferred embodiment of my invention, includes a base composed of a bottom part I5, and an upper inverted U-shaped portion I6 secured together by screws counter sunk as indicated at I1, Fig. 2. Mounted for sliding movement in a dovetailed relationship with the top surface of, the base part It is a carriage l8 which carries thereon a table top I9 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The table top is pivoted at one end on the carriage l8 as indicated at 20. The opposite end of the table I9 is curved as indicated at 2|, Fig. 1, to permit the table top to be adjusted for angular positions relative to the end plate 22 which is likewise curved. Along the curved portions of the table top and the end plate are graduations 23 and 24 by which angular adjustments of the table may be determined with a high degree of accuracy.

In order to provide for lengthwise adjustment of the table l9, the carriage i3 is secured to an end plate 26 which is mounted on a sleeve 21 carried by a spindle 28. At the outer end of the sleeve 21 is a clutch disc 30 keyed at 3| to the spindle 28. Interposed between the clutch and the end plate 26 is a thrust bearing 32. Supported in coactive relation with clutch disc 30 is a large cup shaped actuating member 34 provided with a knurled portion 35, Figs. 1 and 2, to facilitate manual adjustment of the table. The member 3G is provided with a disc surface 36 for coaction with the clutch disc 30. The surface 36 of member 34 is urged into engagement with the clutch disc 30 by thrust bearing 31 and spring 38, the latter being held in place on spindle 28 by a knurled collar or knob 39 locked to the shaft and held thereon by a threaded nut 40.

The spindle 28 is threaded for reception in a threaded block 42 carried on base member [6. Arranged in parallel relation to the spindle 28 is a pair of pins 43 and 44 received in tubular openings contained in the base member IS, the

.iustable index 48 for cooperation with gradua.-.

tions :19 on the base member I6. For any position of the carriage the index 48 maybeadjustedLto: a desired division mark of graduationsefl'iii-and the member 34 may be retracted against spring 31 and turned relative to catch disc untilthe.

zero mark is opposite the index 46.

The table top I9 is provided with 'a-dep'endinglug 50, Fig. 3, engageable on one side by aethumb screw 5! threadably engaged in the carriage l8,

and. on the opposite side by aretraction spring arrangement 52 "contained in a bore in the carriage structure. By adjustingthumb screw ,..5|

the table top maybe adjusted to the desired angle.

relative to the carriage.

As shown in. Fig. 2; the base members [5"and lfi-provide space fora moveable base SHPDOI carriage 53 for. a column .54.

indicated at 56. In order to provide a tight dovetail relationship a side piece 51 "isadjustably held;

in. desired engagement with .the inner :dovetail portion by screw 58;, The support'53is provided; with. an endplate 26a;'and .manuallyadjustabl'e.

members 3 1a and 39a.'similarly 'asprovidedifor thecarriage [8 as viewed in Fig.2. The support 53;.is likewise provided witha' threaded. spindle 28a and retraction springs Mat-containedinzbbresx inthe base member. l5, "Fig: 3. By'adjustm'ent'. ofmember 34a... for example, the carriage. 53"and the column carried thereby maybeiadjusted crosswise with respect to theta'bletop. lfifthereby adjustingthe microscope 60 .relative to the .table.

The column 54 includes an .upright member. 61" which .carriesa post. .62 .anda plurality of springurged. pins. 63 and. a. truing. pin. 64. SIideabIy,

received on thepost 1621s atubular s1eeve;05; the

lower. end of which .isprovidediwithfia flange membertt. against which pins. 63T'bean. The

flange elotmem'b'er .06 Iis split as indicated. at 68,,

Fig. l, and. includes .a circular cutout toreceive thepin .6 5. The split portions of the flange .61"

are caused to. grip. thecpin .fitbytightening. screw 69, Fig. 3.

sleeve 65 is lockediagainst. rotary movement It is quite often .desirableto mak'e.sma1l.;verticaladiustment .of the microscope or other instrumentalities carried by. the sleeve I65. I .have. provided a thumb adjustment member. 15 at. the. top. of -the.post.secured. toaspindleji 'threadably,

engaged in a. bore .or. a threaded piece 162cm. the bore of the. post 62. Interposedlb'etween. the member 10 and. the .memberjfi'is. .a thrust bear:

ing 12.. The .pins63 areprovidedwith springs. 73.01 sufiicient .strengthto support the sleeve 6'5.

and any instrumentalities thereonsoasto resiliently. urge the tubular. member against the thrust bearing .12..

tion comprising a bracket part 15" clamped in The carriagefiS extends through the spaceprovided 'bettween'the; legs of member "Stand is.slideably engaged .in'; dovetailed'manner with the base member I5"as.'

The lower -end..of pin 6B is .slideablyv receivedinaborein member 6;] whereby the.

By turning the member 10. theisleeve Bicanbe adiustedvertically as desired...

The microscope .130 is.,shown.. to ,be: supported in.-.F.igs. 1, .2 and.,3 by.a .swiv.el bracket.combina:

4 desired position on the sleeve 65 by tightening thumb screw 76. The bracket 15 is provided with a pivot pin H at its lower end and a threaded opening 18 at its upper end for reception of a thumb screw 10. Pivoted on the pin ii is the swivel bracket M which is provided with two thumb screws BI and 82 disposed at right angles to the thumb: screw 10. By adjusting; thumb screws BI and 82 against screw 79 the bracket 14 can be tilted at an angle to the vertical, the upper end of the bracket members 14 and 15 being graduatedas indicated at 83 and 86, Fig. 1. Thus the microscopemay not only be adjusted vertically-by-thumb screw 10 and transverse of the .table. [0 by actuating member 30a but may also be tilted at an angle to the vertical by manipulatingthumb screws 8| and B2.

Themicroscope 60 has several unique features including the simplicityof construction and the means for effecting certain adjustments. The microscope includes two tubular sections- BB and 8E telescoped together, the lower-section-86-being clamped in the bracket 14 asind-i'catedat 8l,'-'Fi'gs.- 2 and 3. To the upper section 854s keyed aprotractor. disc 88-wh-ich is graduated-as indicated at 89 formeasuring the angularposition-ofthe crosshairs 90 of the -eye-piece-9|, Figs. rand-31 The scale is read with respect to-the vernie'r scale 92 supported on bracket 4 5a The-eye piece 9| may be adjusted for-centering. the crosshair' by means of four set screws-93'contained-in-spacei relation in the upper-section In order to provide proper light directly-down upon the tool or other work being-viewed on-table I9 I provide a reflector-attachment =95 wh'ich is' tubular for slidingattachment onto the circular portion of 'theobjective '96. The lower- 'end of the reflector 95 is closed, except for 'a small opening 91; byan inclined end portion- 98. By placing a light source 99 to one sideof the reiiector 95--the light rays directed onto the surface of portion 08 will be reflected-onto the work disposed belowthe objective. The reflector 95" isprefGrably metaiwhich may be highly 1 polishedfor 'eflicient reflection.

In place 1 of the swivel bracket comb'inatiorr M; 15' a'simpler bracket I00; Fig; 4;:maybe-used;

In place of the microscope 60 certain known: forms of microscopes may be employed, in -which case a simple-bracket I02, Fig.5;maybe usedl- This type of bracket may be; clamped by thumb screw 103 .to::the.s1eeve 65uwhiletthecmicroscopeis secured .by bolts orxothenmeansato the vertica'li plate portion 104. This bracket :may beuclampedii in vertically adjustedvpositionnonv the acolumnifl without the provision ofthei'swivel arrangement; provided-by the bracket combinationizl i; .15.,

Hit isxdesired, aswivelbracket may be provided for known; formsof miCIOSC0pBS"'SlIQh:faS' maybe usedwithv bracket I02; 'I'hatiis:toasay,-.abracket I06 may be provided, .haying;an.-.attach.- ment plate I 04a similar to that of bracket; l02,. Fig. 5, and swivelponnectionsI01,;i08:.similar: to the swivel connections-of bracket .14-, The bracket I06 of course-will be.- used inrconiunctionewith bracket 15.-

In Figs. '7 t0=10-.I:show a form. oi work'supportt to be used on the table=.l9.ofthetmicroscope .apparatus shown in Figsl, Zandfi. Theworksup port includestwo members .41 0.and.', l I l each having depending portions I l.2,. I I3,v andr-locking members. I14, .|.l.5 fr: receptiomdnatherflanged slots .H6 in the top .Of: .tab1eJ.9.. 'Theflookingimeme hers I I4 .-,and; l.l.5care...provided with .actuatablet. members ll'Band' H9 whereby, either operating on a cam principle or screw thread principle, whereby actuation thereof locks the work support to the table. It will be clear that the supports III] and III are shiftable along the slots II6 to the desired position before looking.

The support IIO includes a base member I provided with a triangular groove l2I for receiving a tube I22 having jaws I23 to grip the work to be measured. The tube I23 is clamped by spring held members I24 and I25 in the groove I2I. The tube I22 is retained in the desired position and adjusted slight amounts by means of a threaded member I26 supported from the base I20 by an adjustable rod I21 and a connecting link I28 provided with screw I29 by which the threaded member I26 may be locked. The rod I2'I may likewise be locked by screw I30. The member I I0 includes a light reflector I3I pivotally carried on a rod I32 supported by the base I20. Thus the reflector directs light from an adjacent source onto the work held by the jaws I23.

The member I I I is sometimes necessary to support the opposite ends of the work by the jaws I23. This is particularly necessary where it is desirable to adjust the work at various angles or to center the work. The member includes a base I34 which slideably supports rod I35 for sliding and rotary movement. The rod I35 supports a plate I36 which also has an upper pin member I31 disposed parallel to the rod I35. The base I34 has a pair of oppositely disposed thumb screws I38 and I39 which engage pin I3'I to determine the pivoted position of plate I36. The plate I36 pivotally supports a second plate I40 by pin I4I which in turn carries a face plate I42 thru which extends work supporting pin I43. The second plate I is adjustable about pin MI by screws I44 and I45, Figs. 7, 9 and 10.

From the foregoing description of Figs. 7 to 10 it will be clear that any work supported at one end by jaws I23 of member IIIl may be adjusted at its opposite end in a vertical direction by adjustment screws I44, I45 and adjusted laterally by screws I38, I39.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I show a V block attachment for use on the table I 9, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The base of the attachment I includes a lock means I 5| I52 for coaction with groove II6 of the table. The apex of the V groove I53 is shaped to include a flanged groove I54 by which a further attachment having a similar locking lug may be secured thereto. As shown, a centering element I55 is locked in the groove I54 of the attachment.

In Figs. l3, l4 and 15 I show an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the means for effecting lengthwise adjustment of carriage I8 includes a lead screw nut 42a adjustable to minimize axial play of spindle 28. In addition, a thrust bearing I is held on the spindle by a pair of elements I6l and I62 threadably received on the spindle. The bearing I60 is urged against the sleeve 21 in opposition to the bearing 32. This insures proper mounting of the end plate 26 on the spindle 28.

Referring-more particularly to Figs. 14 and 15 it will be noted that the nut 42a is split as indicated at I 63 and is provided with a screw I64 interconnecting the split portions, whereby adjustment of the screw tightens the nut upon the threads of the spindle 28. By proper adjustment of the screw I64 relative axial movement or backlash between the threads of spindle 28 and nut 42a may be substantially avoided, thus eliminating the need for the pins 43, 44 and retraction springs 45 included in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In Fig. 13 the carriage I8 and the supporting base therefor is shown without any retraction springs. The movement of the carriage in either direction is controlled by the turning force applied to members 34 and 39.

It will be understood, however, that if desired the retraction spring arrangement shown in Fig. 2 may be included along with the spindle mounting arrangement shown in Fig. 13, the force of 10 the springs operating in conjunction with the lead screw nut 42a to remove relative axial play between spindle 28 and the nut 42a.

It will be clear that while the nut 42a and opposed bearing arrangement 32, I60 have been 15 shown in connection with carriage I8, substantially the same arrangement may be provided for the spindle of carriage 53; and if desired, this same bearing and split nut arrangement may be provided for the spindle II of the column 54, 0 Fig. 3. In such case the retraction springs I3 would preferably be included to counter-balance at least part of the weight of sleeve 65 and attachments applied to the sleeve.

While I have shown two preferred embodi- 25 ments of the optical measuring instrument together with various forms of bracket attachments and work supporting attachments, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that many variations of the optical instrument, the adjustable carriage arrangement thereof, the supporting brackets and the work supporting attachments, may be made without departing from my invention. It should be understood therefore that the apparatus herein shown and described is illustrative of the invention only and is not'to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention as set forth in the objects and the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In measuring'apparatus, a base comprising a bottom part and an upper part shaped to provide an opening therebetween, a first carriage mounted on said upper part for movement in a direction transverse to said opening, a second carriage mounted for movement lengthwise in said opening, and an instrument supporting column disposed to the rear of said first carriage and carried by said second carriage, each carriage having a threaded spindle, threaded mem- 50 bers carried by said base to receive the threaded portion of each spindle, a sleeve on each spindle secured to said carriage, a first clutch disk secured to said spindle, a second clutch disk rotatably mounted on said spindle, a knob secured to 55 said spindle and a thrust bearing and spring arrangement disposed between said knob and said second disk to cause the latter to resiliently engage said first disk said sleeve and said second clutch being disposed adjacent each other with 60 calibrations on one for measuring relative movement therebetween, said second disk being turnable independent of said spindle for zero setting purposes and adapted to "be driven by said first clutch disk upon turning movement of said spin- 65 dle to measure change in position of said carriages.

2. In measuring apparatus, a base, a carriage mounted for movement on said base, a threaded spindle carried by said carriage, a threaded memher on said base to receive the threaded portion of said spindle, a sleeve on said spindle secured to said carriage, a first clutch disk secured to said spindle, thrust bearing means disposed between said sleeve and said first clutch disk, a second clutch disk rotatably mounted on said 

